Torchlight II Expanded Details

[modeps]

Last week on the Shotgun Podcast, we interviewed three of the main folks at Runic Games: Max Schaefer, Travis Baldree, and Jason Beck. While there's a ton of awesome information in there, we understand some of you may not have an hour to listen. Runic Games Fansite was kind enough to blow through the interview and create a sweet bulleted list, hitting all the highpoints, which there are a ton of.

Interested in Torchlight II? Read on after the break.

[modeps]

• Max was likely a bit tipsy when he slipped about Torchlight II at GDC earlier this year. (2:20)
• Runic is still "relatively" Independent, and Perfect World is the "Investor." (2:49)
• Currently at 32 people on staff and no plans to get much bigger. (3:25)
• Roughly 4 Digital Downloads for every 1 boxed copy of Torchlight sold. (4:25, beginning of Runic Team Growth Talk)
• They want console releases, but haven't managed it so far. (6:00)
• Never really considered Torchlight II as an expansion pack. (7:00)
• MMO pushed to the back-burner for now. (8:04, beginning of MMO talk)
• More classes, non-linear advancement and outside worlds. (8:45)
• Mac version sooner after the PC release than the last game. (9:39)
• Likely to have Steam availability on day 1. (9:12)
• No modding tools for Mac again, because they are programmed in C#. (10:04)
• A writer has been hired and there will be actual narrative. (11:05)
• You will not be starting in the town of Torchlight.
• Lots of regions and cultures in Torchlight II.
• In a lot of ways the changes from Diablo 1 to Diablo 2 are comparable to Torchlight 1 and Torchlight 2. (12:20)
• No plans on any kind of import from the old game to the new one. Much of the game has been revamped or improved, which makes it difficult to try to import anything. (13:00)
• Itemization system is being changed and will match the new classes. (Starts at 12:47)
• The Railman class is "an engineer turned into a melee tank." They are charged with developing transportation and pushing it into the wilderness. (15:40)
• The Outlander is a hybrid of ranged with "superstitious magic." Survivalist vibe. (16:25)
• Torchlight has its own style of steampunk that they have been working with for the art style. (17:22)
  
• The UI has been totally overhauled. (18:30)
• Identification system will be changed, if not completely removed. "Less onerous." (18:47)
• Chatting in multiplayer. (19:09)
• Trying out a bag-based system for the inventory. (19:16)
• New pets, but Dogs and Cats of some sort will be included. (19:55)
• More monsters scaling this time, not as much as oblivion but better than the main dungeon in the original game. (20:20)
• A lot more balance between classes this time, especially for skills. (21:15)
• Endless dungeons and retirement will return "in some way, shape or form." (22:09)
• PvP might appear in the game, but it won't be possible to do it cheat-free. (23:30)
• They want to make it possible for people to play with mods with other people. (25:20)
• There will be a friends list. (26:20)
• Inline character saves so that people can play on the go from anywhere. (26:40)
• Monster scaled via proximity. "If you are in Act 3 and I'm in act 1..." then the Act 1 monsters won't get harder. (27:50)
• The loot you see drop will belong only to you, and item trading will be available. Trading interface included, but you can throw things on the ground for anyone to pick up if you want. (28:15)
• Co-op is a minimum of four players, and a possible maximum of eight. Summons are a major factor in these numbers. Not finalized. (28:52)
• Video at Gamescom! (29:50)
• The game will be playable in Pre-Alpha form at Gamescom later this month. (30:4
• Alpha (or Beta?) testing MAY be early next year, and they want to involve the community but don't know how they want to do that yet. (31:10)
• You can see what mods someone has if they join your game, and they will need to be the same to join.
• Skill system has changed.
• The world will be divided into zones with sub-areas, and random outdoors. (35:44)
• Three major distinct outdoor types - Grassy mountain Steppes, Desert and Dark, Spooky Battlefield Forest (Swamp?) (36:19)
• Random events like caravans being attacked. (38:14)
• 200+ Unique weapon models. (38:25, 39:10 Key points)
• New weapon types, including Cannons and Fist weapons. (39:20)
• Weapon specific walking and attack animations. (39:45)
• Fishing may be revised, but it will return. (40:50)
• No mounts. (43:30)
• Price point close to the last game. (44:30)

[Cygnus]

Console version should be released before Mac. It should be easier to port to 360.

[LikeTheRazor]

sounds good to me!

[Nezabyte]

thanks for the summary! looking forward to this game for sure.

[lockwoodx]

Thank you for the rundown. I listened to the beginning but since my question was answered right away I never did finish the whole thing.

Likely to have Steam availability on day 1. (9:12)

Yes but you didn't say if Torchlight 2 will have steam cloud support.

Monster scaled via proximity. "If you are in Act 3 and I'm in act 1..." then the Act 1 monsters won't get harder. (27:50)

This sucks.

Co-op is a minimum of four players, and a possible maximum of eight. Summons are a major factor in these numbers. Not finalized. (28:52)

Wow.... I will pass on this game despite all the praise I've given it if they prevent me from logging on with my girl and just chilling together. 4 player minimum? Seriously?

[Grumsh]

Multiplayer? Hooray ! They will get my cash this time around.

[Chimpbot]

Originally Posted by lockwoodx

Wow.... I will pass on this game despite all the praise I've given it if they prevent me from logging on with my girl and just chilling together. 4 player minimum? Seriously?

I think that's meant to be read, "We're going to make sure there's going to be at least a maximum of 4 player co-op. We might be able to do 8."

[Andruil]

Originally Posted by Chimpbot

I think that's meant to be read, "We're going to make sure there's going to be at least a maximum of 4 player co-op. We might be able to do 8."

I did a double take too but I agree with what Chimpbot is saying. Probably a 4 player cap at the very least and an 8 player cap may be feasible.

[Gipson]

The loot you see drop will belong only to you, and item trading will be available. Trading interface included, but you can throw things on the ground for anyone to pick up if you want. (28:15)

that kinda sucks. i'd rather see all the drops, even if i can't pick them up.

[pwnophobia]

Originally Posted by Chimpbot

I think that's meant to be read, "We're going to make sure there's going to be at least a maximum of 4 player co-op. We might be able to do 8."

It has been confirmed that it'll be at least 4 player maximum co-op .

[Kragg]

Yeah, that was worded a bit funny. I don't think there will be a "minimum" number of people needed in co-op, aside from two, obviously. The cap will either be 4 or 8, but they haven't finalized it at this time.

[Chimpbot]

Originally Posted by pwnophobia

It has been confirmed that it'll be at least 4 player maximum co-op .

Yay! I was right!



High five?

[LobsterMobster]

Sounds great to me. Just stop the character from lowering their gun between shots and I'll be happy.